iPhone 5s discounts hit China ahead of big China Mobile launch

Rival carriers are bracing for the imminent debut of Apple’s new iPhones on the biggest wireless service provider in the world, China Mobile. As noted by Bloomberg on Tuesday, China’s No. 3 carrier China Telecom has begun offering significant discounts on the flagship iPhone 5s in a preemptive strike as China Mobile prepares to launch both the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c next Friday, January 17th. According to the report, China Telecom is now offering the 16GB iPhone 5s for as little as 4,488 yuan, or about $742, with several combined discounts. That figure is 800 yuan ($132) off the flagship phone’s list price of 5,288 yuan ($874). China Unicom, the country’s second-largest carrier, hasn’t yet announced any discounts ahead of the iPhone’s launch on China Mobile.